In an effort to get off the hook for allegedly giving the National Security Agency illegal access to its customers' records, the companies pushed hard earlier this year and the Justice Department helped, lobbying Congress independently.

The game's not over yet, though: Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has introduced a rival FISA bill that doesn't include immunity. And whatever emerges from the Senate will have to be reconciled with an already-passed House bill that withholds immunity."